Flow Super Lifter® Hive Lifting System

01 · THE SCREWS GO IN ONCE

And they are per hive, not per lifter

The Load Point Screws stay in the box as permanent load points. The kit brings eight: enough to start, not enough for a whole apiary. Every body you intend to lift needs its own, so scaling to twenty hives means buying more screws.

It is worth planning ahead: fitting them in a batch, with the hive open and cold, is far more comfortable than adding them as you go in the middle of the flow.

02 · THE SUPERS HANG THERE

Not on the ground, not on an upturned roof

What changes the work is not only lifting the weight, it is where it ends up. The supers are held suspended and out of the way, so the brood chamber gets inspected with both hands and without hunting for somewhere to rest thirty kilos.

And on the way down the movement is slow and controlled: the bees on the rims have time to move aside, and that shows in how many get crushed on closing. The propolis seal also gives to leverage instead of to a jerk.

03 · WHICH WIDTH IT TAKES

The measurement to check is the width

It works with hives of a width equivalent to 10 Langstroth frames or 7 Flow frames, which covers Langstroth, Dadant, UK National and Flow Hive. Two full supers, loaded, are within its normal range.

The assembly is extruded aluminium with machined stainless steel joints and a three-section telescopic leg, which is what lets you plant it on uneven ground. The foot has a spring to grip on damp soil, and it folds for the van.

04 · STANDARD OR DELUXE

The difference is accessories, not capacity

The Standard is the lifter plus the 8 anchor screws: everything needed to work from day one.

The Deluxe adds the extra handles, the padded carry bag and two brass latches for securing hives. It is the configuration that makes sense for migratory work and long days; for a few hives, the Standard does the same job.

05 · BEFORE YOU BUY

A field tool, with a consumable worth counting.